Letters to the Editor
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What's being described here is part of an ongoing civil war
that has been raging here in California ever since I moved here back in the '80s. It's the struggle between people who embrace and kiss casual acquaintances and those of us who don't.
There's an unpleasant evangelical streak running through some of the letters here in which the writer's desire for physical privacy in Yoga is treated as if it were pathological. It reminds me of the Born Again Christians I left behind in the south who manifest their intolerance by laving us nonChristians with melting pity and concern over our unredeemed state.
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so cool
Wow! You moved from Brooklyn to San Francisco AND you do yoga? Could you be any cooler? Personally, I don't think so.
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OT: To DurianJoe. Re: Tai Chi
Hey DurianJoe,
It really depends on the teacher as to how effective Tai Chi is.
I find that push hands is effective in stand-up grappling and kickboxing. I've found myself in some painful armbars and wristlocks from Tai Chi sifus. I've had other TC sifus knock me on my ass and I knew one who took full-force punches from everyone in the room without any discomfort.
But, I've gone out of my way to find teachers who were familiar with the martial aspects and those are harder and harder to find all the time. Everyone seems to want a gentle exercise class.
Even though most of my experience is in Yang style, I have to say that Chen people do a much better job of preserving and applying the martial aspects of Tai Chi.
I recently watched a DVD called "Journey to Chen Village." I can tell you one thing - the students in Chen Village are tough! Their training is just as physically and mentally demanding as any boxer's.
Lastly, it may seem like a cop-out, but once you find a good martial arts instructor, no matter the style, you will only get out of it what you put into it.
No more. No less.
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Also dangerous
I have been seriously injured twice by partners who were inept and clueless. I refuse to do partner yoga. I had practiced for upwards of ten years. It sadly means that joining a class is pretty much out (as you pointed out the prevalence of the practice), and on my own, my practice has suffered.
I completely agree that it does nothing for going to that inside quiet place.
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Thanks, Hell's Liberal
There is a Chen-style T'ai Chi class not far from where I live. I might check them out.
I'm looking forward to Push Hands, but I'm still uncertain as to just when we'll get to that. I know that less than a year into Krav Maga I was wearing fighting gear and doing full contact, not quite full speed sparring, and that blew away my previous training (Shotokan karate, Tang Soo Do). Only boxing was as immediately edifying I see T'ai Chi as a longer term art, but to continue from your advice on what-you-give-is-what-you-get, I think that in the long term it's going to pay off in a very satisfying way.
I'm also going to take that yoga class, but unless my partner is Scarlett Johanssen, I'll balk at doing any partner work.
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Yoga styles
I think instructors should post info on what sorts of techniques they'll be using in their sessions so that people can avoid classes that will make them uncomfortable.
I also think it's unfortunate that there are folks who think Americans are disrespecting a spiritual practice from another culture by doing yoga. It would be nice if we could rename it, but I think it's too late. We're never going to get out of calling it yoga. I know our versions bear only slight resemblance to the venerable practices that inspired them. But our Americanized yoga has a lot to recommend it, and no one I know who practices yoga means any disrespect to anyone, nor do they believe they're really engaged in a mystical ancient rite. They know they're just Americans getting some exercise in a more meditative and slow fashion than usual.
I am a part time group exercise instructor and just started teaching yoga this year. I enjoy teaching it far more than I imagined I would. I teach a very basic, westernized version and still it is wonderfully relaxing. I give a lot of options for each pose so that anyone can participate, and I love seeing people who aren't up to most group exercise classes because of health or age issues able to participate. Yoga is a great option for some people, and I believe it is a great compliment to anyone's exercise routine. If the chanting or partnering or other new-agey aspects are scaring you off, try it at a regular gym rather than a specialty studio.
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Partner Yoga is not Iyengar Yoga either
I have to line up with the writer who objected because Sri Jois does not endorse partner work. As a long time student of BKS Iyengar and an instructor of Iyengar yoga I can say with authority that Sri Iyengar does not encourage partner work. He has said he believes it encourages a type of intimacy that is not appropriate in the class and distracts them from the purpose of yoga which is self knowledge. The author may have been told these things because These two living masters have had such a strong influence on yoga in the west. Look carefully, not everything said about them is true.
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Regarding Tai Chi: there is a huge market for Klingon Martial Arts styles.....
I'm telling ya, there is a market waiting to be tapped for honorable warrior Klingon martial arts classes.
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LOL--I'd suggest suggesting "Twister" to this outfit
(that's it--suggest they call it "Twister" instead of yoga)
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Fantastic
Catherine, your piece is fantastic and no matter what the folks have written in this comment thread from hell, I think it has a place as Salon's lead. You made me laugh hard this morning, thank you, I needed that.
PS: I do yoga in a flow class in rural Connecticut. No partnering.
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finally, someone said something
I hate partner yoga. I HATE PARTNER YOGA. Hate it. Hate it. Disgusting!
Also, could the big hairy yoga dudes get their own corner of the room so they can whip around their freaky fountains of sweat with abandon. Gross.
signed,
Dreading Partner Yoga Exercises Since 1997